Monday, April 20, 2009

Local Santa Cruz eateries pitching in on May 4th

Two of my favorite local restaurants are going to take part in the "grow a farmer" campaign, which, is really actually the "we must raise money for housing by july or apprentices will no longer be able to live on the farm" campaign.On Monday, May 4th Ristorante Avanti and Gabriella Cafe will both be donating a percentage of the night's sales to the campaign. I am really hoping that folks will turn out to pack the house(s). It is kind of a special nexus-y night for me as I work at Avanti, and am on the Board of the Friend's of the Farm and Garden, and also as of recently have started working at the farm again, as the gardener for Life Lab.I can't say enough about Paul and CIndy Geise's (the owners of Avanti) commitment to local/organic/sustainable. They have been buying strictly from local producers for twenty years, long before it was fashionable. It has never been "organic when possible" for them, which I have learned by working in restaurants is a total BS way of saying that "we are really not willing to spend the money on organic and decrease our profit to support sustainable agriculture, and oh yea, we also won't spend to provide you with the most fresh, delicious nutritious food, andwell, the truth is, very little of what we serve is organic and it's really just marketing". Sorry to rant but please believe me, it's very often true.Paul and Cindy don't make a big deal out doing what they do. They don't consider themselves heroes or trendsetters (the secret is that they are) or wax pedantic in people's faces. For them it is just normal, just as it would be to, say, your imaginary Tuscan grandma. But it does take effort and willingness and committment and sacrifice. They could definitely increase their pretty miniscule profit margin by buying lower quality/conventional ingredients or by raising their prices or by lowering the wages of employees to the minimum wage (ok, it's not a cheap place, but you pay exactly the same as you would pay at many places for a chemical laden meal prepared from unsustainable sources) but it's not even a question for them. I admit that it quite weird to me that they are an exception and that it isn't a given that everyone does it this way, but alas, I am apparently a girl from another time and place.

There's my rant about that! Again, I hope both places are packed, and that people are generous in supporting the future of the aprenticeship. Some think that if this housing doesn't get built, the apprenticeship will be kaput...In the word's of the inimitable Orin Martin; "We need to do this, and we need to do it NOW!!". Let's DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The UCSC Apprenticeship Alumni Association works to advance food system sustainability through ensuring the long-term viability of the residential Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The Alumni Association shall foster mutually beneficial relationships between the UCSC Apprenticeship Program and its alumni by promoting alumni engagement and advancing the mission of Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture. The Alumni Association shall encourage a sense of pride in and commitment to the outstanding qualities of the Apprenticeship Program and the unique education it provides, and promote a positive image of the Apprenticeship and its alumni through outreach, service and leadership.